Automatic purse light

ABSTRACT

A ladies handbag is provided with hollow upper frame portions, one of which is adapted to receive a light bulb and energizing batteries. A manually operable thumb switch on the outside of one frame portion sets an electric circuit, so that when the handbag is opened a limit switch completes the circuit to energize the light bulb. Conversely when the handbag is closed, the limit switch breaks the circuit to de-energize the light bulb. The thumb switch can also be positioned to maintain the light bulb in a de-energized state regardless of whether or not the handbag is open or closed.

[451 Feb. 19, 1974 1 1 AUTOMATIC PURSE LIGHT [76] Inventor: Rhinhold J. Zeeb, Lesterville, S.

Dak. 57040 [22] Filed: Mar. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 234,600

3,609,342 9/1971 Wisniewski 240/645 P Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-E. M. Bero Attorney, Agent, or FirmJohn E. Reilly [57] ABSTRACT A ladies handbag is provided with hollow upper frame portions, one of which is adapted to receive a light bulb and energizing batteries. A manually operable thumb switch on the outside of one frame portion sets an electric circuit, so that when the handbag is opened a limit switch completes the circuit to energize the light bulb. Conversely when the handbag is closed, the limit switch breaks the circuit to de-energize the light bulb. The thumb switch can also be positioned to maintain the light bulb in a deenergized state regardless of whether or not the handbag is open or closed.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures ii 34] i 1 L n a 40 424 1 1 (3 32/ 32 PAIENIEU FEB 1 91974 84 so 82 f AUTOMATIC PURSE LIGHT This invention generally relates to a new and improved mechanism for illuminating the interior of purses, handbags and the like, and more particularly relates to an illuminating mechanism which is incorporated directly into the framework of a purse in a manner such that it can be automatically energized and deenergized when the handbag is opened and closed, re spectively.

As is well known, the contents of a ladies handbag are frequently disordered so that to locate a particular article is often very difficult. The problem becomes most acute when there is insufficient daylight and not infrequently the individual is obliged to remove oneself to a lighted environment in order to locate the article.

The prior art has recognized the problem and discloses numerous illuminating means for attachment to a ladies handbag. To applicants knowledge, however, each of these prior art devices is less than desirable either because it occupies too much space within the handbag or is cumbersome and, when attached, lends a bulky and unattractive appearance to the handbag.

The illuminating mechanism of the present invention is adapted to be incorporated directly into the framework of the handbag in an out-of-the-way position and is of simple construction so that it is durable and substantially maintenance-free. The mechanism is provided with a thumb switch which when in its operative position sets the lightbulb circuit in the mechanism so as to be energized by a limit switch which is closed when the handbag opens. Conversely, when the handbag is closed the limit switch is open to de-energize the light bulb. The thumb switch when positioned in its operative position prevents energization of the light bulb, regardless of whether or not the handbag is opened or closed so that when the light is not needed, unnecessary use of the light bulb and batteries can be avoided.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mechanism for illuminating the interior ofa ladies handbag, or the like, which is incorporated into the framework of the handbag in an unnoticable position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for illuminating a ladies handbag, or the like, which is simple in construction, securely mounted in place and is substantially maintenancefree.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an efficient and reliable mechanism for illuminating the interior of a ladies handbag, or the like, which is compact so as not to occupy useable space within the handbag and which does not affect the aesthetic appearance of the handbag.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handbag incorporating the illuminating mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal central vertical section taken through a portion of the framework of the handbag of FIG. 1 to show the operative mechanism of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a ladies handbag 10 is shown having a receptacle or pouch portion 12, side frame portions 14 and 16 which are pivoted at 18, and upper frame portions 20 and 22 connecting the associated free ends of the side frame portions.

Upper frame portion 20 is utilized to house the illuminating mechanism of the present invention and in the preferred embodiment, aesthetically resembles upper frame portion 22 whereby the overall appearance of the handbag is pleasing and it is not readily apparent that the handbag is provided with illuminating means.

Upper frame portion 20, as is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, in a preferred form comprises a substantially hollow tubular member of rectangular transverse crosssection, being compartmentalized for receiving the components of the illuminating mechanism of the present invention. One end of the upper frame portion 20 is provided with a removable cap 24 having a coil spring 26 secured to its inner face. The cap 24 and an insulating partition 28 near the longitudinal center of the frame portion 20 define a battery chamber 30 in which a pair of dry cell batteries 32 are maintained such that the batteries are resiliently biased against a conductive pin 33 received in the partition 28. For the most desirable aesthetic effect, it is preferred that the frame portions 20 and 22 be of small cross-sectional area, such as of a size to receive small diameter penlight type batteries.

The upper frame portion 20 is provided near its opposite end with a recessed area 34 defining a window which is lined with a reflector 36 and adapted to receive a thin elongated light bulb 38. The light reflective recessed area 34 opens downwardly and in an inward lateral direction so that the interior of the handbag can be suitably illuminated. The recess-ed area is not visible from the exterior of the handbag when the handbag is closed. The light reflective recess is defined by the reflector 36, an outer end partition 40, and an inner end partition 42 that is adapted to receive a light bulb socket 44 which in the preferred form is of the bayonet slot type.

The socket 44 is made of a conductive material and has an opening through its bottom end which receives an insulating plug 46 that serves as an insulating collar for a conductive pin 48. One end of the pin 48 abuts against the ground terminal 50 on "the lower end of the light bulb 38 when the bulb is seated in the socket 44. The positive terminal 52 of the light bulb 38 slides into a slot (not seen) in the bayonet socket so as to lie in engagement with the conductive socket for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter.

A thumb switch 56 is mounted in the upper wall 58 of the frame portion 20 so as to be slidable in a longitudinal direction within a slot 60 in the upper wall of the frame portion 20. The thumb switch 56 includes an outer head portion 62, an intermediate stem 64 and a lower plate 66 all of which are made of an insulating material. A conductive strip 54 is secured to the bottom surface of the plate 66 and is movable, when the thumb switch is moved, into and out of engagement with the conductive socket 44.

A conductive leaf spring 68 anchored to the partition 28 at the end of the battery chamber is maintained in permanent contact with the pin 33 passing through the partition 28 and engaging the positive terminal 70 of the innermost battery 32. The opposite end of the leaf spring 68 is biased into positive engagement with the conductive strip 67 and remains in engagement therewith regardless of the position of the thumb switch. Accordingly, when the thumb switch is in its operative position (FIG. 2) so that the conductive strip 54 is engaged with socket 44, a positive potential will be placed on the positive terminal 52 of the light bulb. Movement of the thumb switch to its inoperative position, or to the right as viewed in FIG. 2, disengages the conductive strip 54 from the socket so that the positive terminal of the light bulb does not receive a positive potential.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a limit switch used to energize and de-energize the light bulb in response to opening and closing respectively of the handbag includes a push button 74 of an insulating material which is slidably received in an opening 76 passing through the inner side wall 78 of the frame portion 20. The push button 74 is square in transverse cross-section to prevent rotation and has a coil spring 80 affixed to its inner end which abuts against the opposite or outside wall 82 of the frame portion and is held in place by a guide 84 protruding inwardly from the outside wall. The push button 74 is disposed for reciprocating movement through a collar 86 of a conductive material secured to the inner wall 78 of the frame portion 20. A conductive pin 88 is secured adjacent the innermost end of the push button so as to be normally engaged with the collar 86 but when the push button is pressed inwardly to compress the spring 80, the conductive pin separates from the conducting collar 86. A leaf spring 90 is anchored to the conducting pin 88 and is biased against the conducting pin 48 passing through the end of the socket. It can be appreciated, therefore, that when the push button is disposed so that the conducting pin 88 engages the conducting collar 86, the ground terminal 50 of the light bulb will be grounded through conducting pin 48, the leaf spring 90, the conducting pin 88, the conducting collar 86, and the inner side 78 of the frame portion 20. However, when the push button is depressed, as when the purse is closed and the frame portion 20 is in engagement with the frame portion 22, the conducting pin 88 will be separated from the conducting collar to open the connection with the ground terminal of the light bulb whereby a circuit passing therethrough will be broken.

It can, therefore, be seen that when dry cell batteries are positioned in the frame portion 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a circuit can be completed through the thumb switch 56 and the limit switch 72 to energize the light bulb. It is, of course, necessary to complete the circuit that the thumb switch be in its operative position and that the limit switch be closed (as when the purse or handbag is opened). If the thumb switch is moved to its inoperative position, it is impossible for the light bulb to be energized inasmuch as a positive potential cannot be placed on the positive terminal of the light bulb.

During normal use, the thumb switch is left in its operative position so that when the handbag is closed the limit switch .prevents the light bulb from being illuminated, but when the purse is opened, an electrical circuit is completed to energize the light bulb. Thus, in normal operation the light bulb will automatically be energized and de-energized in response to opening and closing of the handbag respectively.

Accordingly, an illuminating mechanism for use in ladies handbags, or the like, has been described which is both compact and simple in construction so that it can be incorporated into a portion of the frame of the handbag without appreciably affecting the aesthetic appearance of the handbag. The simplicity of the mechanism assures long lasting maintenance-free operation even with rough handling of the handbag. As an illustration of the benefits that can be derived from an illuminating mechanism as shown, a key ring 92 carrying keys 94 could be suspended inside the handbag 10 whereby the illuminating mechanism would make it very easy to select a desired key regardless of the lighting of the surrounding environment.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a handbag having a pouch with an open upper end, a first elongated tubular frame member and a second elongated frame member, each frame member being affixed to the pouch along opposite sides of the open end thereof, said frame members each having an inwardly facing lateral side and at least said first frame member having a downwardly facing bottom side and upwardly facing top side substantially perpendicular to its inwardly facing lateral side, said frame members being operatively interconnected for movement between an open position wherein they are spaced from each other and a closed position wherein the inwardly facing lateral sides of the frame members are abutting, and an electrical power source retained in the hollow portion of said first frame member, the improvement comprising a power source compartment in one end of the first frame member in which the electrical power source is retained, a light source compartment in the opposite end of said first frame member spaced from said power source compartment, a recess in the inwardly facing lateral side of said first frame member, a recess in the bottom side of said first frame member continuous with the recess in said inwardly facing lateral side, both of said recesses opening into said light source compartment to define a window with two substantially perpendicular sides, a light source releasably retained in said compartment and electrically connected to said power source, and switch means in the space between said power source compartment and said light source compartment of said first frame member at the approximate longitudinal center of the frame member operatively connected to said power source and said light source to selectively energize and deenergize the light source, said switch means including an automatically operable spring-biased push-button switch disposed in said inwardly facing lateral side to contact said second frame member and an overriding manual switch for energizing and deenergizing the power source, said manual switch being disposed on the top side of the first frame member in a position to be operated when the handbag is closed.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,792,652 Dated February 19, 1974 Inventor(s) RHINIIOLD J. ZIIEB It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 40, "2 should read 20 Signed and sealed this 6th day of August 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents :mu PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60316-P69 #'u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 3-:34 

1. In a handbag having a pouch with an open upper end, a first elongated tubular frame member and a second elongated frame member, each frame member being affixed to the pouch along opposite sides of the open end thereof, said frame members each having an inwardly facing lateral side and at least said first frame member having a downwardly facing bottom side and upwardly facing top side substantially perpendicular to its inwardly facing lateral side, said frame members being operatively interconnected for movement between an open position wherein they are spaced from each other and a closed position wherein the inwardly facing lateral sides of the frame members are abutting, and an electrical power source retained in the hollow portion of said first frame member, the improvement comprising a power source compartment in one end of the first frame member in which the electrical power source is retained, a light source compartment in the opposite end of said first frame member spaced from said power source compartment, a recess in the inwardly facing lateral side of said first frame member, a recess in the bottom side of said first frame member continuous with the recess in said inwardly facing lateral side, both of said recesses opening into said light source compartment to define a window with two substantially perpendicular sides, a light source releasably retained in said compartment and electrically connected to said power source, and switch means in the space between said power source compartment and said light source compartment of said first frame member at the approximate longitudinal center of the frame member operatively connected to said power source and said light source to selectively energize and deenergize the light source, said switch means including an automatically operable spring-biased push-button switch disposed in said inwardly facing lateral side to contact said second frame member and an overriding manual switch for energizing and deenergizing the power source, said manual switch being disposed on the top side of the first frame member in a position to be operated when the handbag is closed. 